Cleaner



April 27 1926.

1,582,367" R. J. ARMSTRONG I CLEANER Filed June 24 1925 ATTORNEY.-

Patented Apr. 27, 1925.

RALPH JOHN ARMSTRONG, OF 'MQNEIT, MISSCURIi CLEANER.

Application filed June 24, 1925, Serial No. 39,295. V

T 0 (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH JOHN ARM- srnonc, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monett, in the county of Barry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cleaner, designed primarily for use in connection with the cleaning of canned goods, but it is to be understood that a cleaner, in accordance with this invention, can be employed for the cleaning of any packaged articles of merchandise for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a cleaner for readily removing from an article of merchandise the dust or dirt which has accumulated on an end thereof during the time. the article has stood on an open shelf, whereby the article can be presented to a customer in an attractive and cleaner condition.

Further objects of the inventionare to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a cleaner for the purpose referred to, which is simple in its construction, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly eflicient and convenient in its use, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel con-.

struction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that such changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views 1- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cleaner, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof and further illustrating, in dotted lines, a can in position to have one end thereof cleaned of the dust or dirt thereon.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a cleaner in accordance with this invention, comprises an open top shallow receptacle, of any suitable material andshape,preferably polygonal and of hexagonal contour. As

shown, the receptacle consists of a hexagonal body portion 1, of substantial height and which has secured therein, in any suitable manner, a bottom plate 2 of the same contour as and which snugly engages throughout the inner face of said body portion. The lower face of the plate 2 is flush with the bottom edge of the bodyvportion 1. The receptacle is secured to a support 3, conveniently positioned to the shelving on which the articles are stacked or stood. The support 3 is secured in position byhold-fast devices 4, in the form of screws and which extend through the bottom plate 2' and engage in the support 3. The heads of the screws 4 are countersunk in the plate 2, as at 5. The width of the body portion 1, at any transverse point, is materially greater than the diameter or width of the article to be cleaned.

Arranged within and of less height than that of the body portion 1, is a cleaning element preferably consisting of a piece of flexible material 6, conforming in contour to the shape of the body portion 1, and having extending from its upper face throughout soft hairs or bristles 7 providing the cleaning means for one end of the can 8. The cleaning element can consist of a piece of sheepskin provided with the hair thereon. The cleaning element is mounted on the plate 1 and snugly engages the inner face of the body portion throughout.

When an article or can is taken from the shelf to be presented to a customer, it is set down in the cleaner, upon the cleaning element, and the end of the can is freed from all dust'or dirt which has accumulated on said can by providing a cleaning action on turning the can on a twist of the hand. lVhen the article or can is positioned in the cleaner, the end therof, upon which the dirtor dust has accumulated is placed against the cleaning means forming a part of the cleaning element. The cleaning means is of greater height than the piece or strip of flexible material 6.

It is thought that the many advantages of a cleaner, in accordance with this inven tion and for the purpose set forth, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of the height than the height of the latter said construction can be had which fall Within receptacle being polygonal in contour and l the scope of the invention as claimed. said element conforming in contour to the l lVhat'I claim is shape of the receptacle.

A cleaner for the purpose set forth com- In testimony whereof, I affix my signature prising a shallow open top receptacle, and a hereto. cleaning element mounted on: the upper face of the bottom of said receptacle and of less RALPH J OHN ARMSTRONG. 

